Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru, Sep 5: The Congress government and the opposition party BJP appear set for a battle as BJP is determined on taking out its ‘Mangaluru Chalo’ bike rally from five districts in the state, starting Tuesday, September 5.
The Dakshina Kannada police and Mangaluru city police commissionerate have declined permission for the rally being organised by BJP Yuva Morcha to protest the killing of RSS activists and BJP functionaries.
Permission has also been denied for the rally in Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts coming under the western range.
Bengaluru police have also refused permission for the rally and imposed prohibitory orders for three days under the Karnataka Police Act. The police have tightened security in and around sensitive areas.
The morcha has also sought the dismissal of forest minister and Dakshina Kannada in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai, accusing him of backing ‘anti-social elements’ involved in the killings.
Rally plans
BJP Yuva Morcha proposes to launch the rally in Bengaluru on Tuesday which will be flagged off by party state president B S Yeddyurappa at Freedom Park. Similar flagging off ceremony will be held in Hubballi also on the same day.
Similar rallies are planned from Shivamogga, Mysuru and Chikkamagaluru on Wednesday.
The participants of the bike rally will converge for a protest meeting at the Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru on September 7.
In Bengaluru, BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar, K S Eshwarappa and R Ashoka met mome minister Ramalinga Reddy to seek permission for the rally.
Reddy told the BJP leaders that the police of the districts, from where the rallies were planned, were the competent authorities to grant permission.
BJP firm
BJP leaders, not willing to relent, told the media that they would ensure the success of the rally. The onus of preventing untoward incidents was on the state government, they said.
Admitting that he had told the BJP leaders to seek permission from the respective superintendents and commissioners of the five districts, the home minister said, nevertheless, he had advised the BJP not to hold the bike rally.
“I advised them not to hold the bike rally as it might lead to severe traffic jams and accidents. I also told them to restrict their protest rally to Mangaluru,” he added.
Reacting to Reddy’s remarks, Shettar said, “Reddy should behave like a home minister. Instead of assuring us protection during the rally, he is pointing fingers towards the local police.”
‘Samarasya Nadige’ by Ramanath Rai
Meanwhile, Ramanath Rai’s proposed ‘Samarasya Nadige’ from Farangipet to Mani in Mangaluru on September 12 is seen as counter to BJP’s rally. “Everybody, except those involved in political murders like the BJP, Sangh Parivar, SDPI and PFI are welcome to participate in the peace march,” Rai has informed.